My sister was visiting from out of town, so I decided to make cannelloni for the first time since I’d bought cannelloni shells recently and have been looking forward to making this. It turned out scrumptious! The whole lot was eaten in one go….. between 3 of us! Needless to say we felt like pigs with our aching guts for the next few hours and hours…..
Ingredients
MEAT BASE
2 med to large Spanish Onions – Sliced and diced
4 Garlic cloves – sliced and diced
550g Organic tomatoes – chopped (or can of tomotoes)
2 Tbs Tomato paste
400g extra lean minced beef
½ tsp Chilli Flakes
Nutmeg
Salt & Pepper
Box of cannelloni shells
1-2 cups tomato sauce
BECHAMEL
1 Litre Soy milk
50g unsalted non-diary butter (sunflower would do)
2 heaped Tbs of Wholemeal Spelt flour (or any other flour would do)
2 heaped Tbs Corn flour (diluted with warm water)
2 Free range eggs
Salt & Pepper
Nutmeg
250g – Parmesan cheese with a mixture of Greek Mitzithra Cheese. (If you don’t have Mitzithra, only parmesan would do) – Grated
In a saucepan cook the onions and garlic in some filtered water until soft and translucent – on med to low heat. Move the onions/garlic to the sides of the saucepan then add the mince meat. With a wooden spoon cut up the mince and cook until brown.
Add the tomato paste and combine thoroughly, cook for a further minute. Add the chopped tomatoes and my homemade tomato sauce. Add ½ tsp chilli flakes, salt and pepper. Bring to boil, then simmer for approx 30min on the lowest heat.
Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile start making the Béchamel sauce.
In a small bowl combine the corn flour and warm water. Dilute fully using a small whisk. In another saucepan add the butter and allow to melt on med to low heat. Once fully melted add the Spelt Flour and with a wooden spoon immediately combine to form a roux i.e a doe ball.
Constantly stir this doe ball and cook for approx 3-5 minutes (important step). Very slowly pour the milk in the saucepan with one hand and with the other rapidly & continually stir the doey ball into the milk attempting to dissolve it as much as possible. Use a large whisk for best results.
Once all the milk has been added, turn the heat up to the highest setting. Do not stop stirring with the whisk. Once the milk starts to ‘smoke’ gently and slowly pour in the very well diluted corn flour mixture. Don’t stop stirring. The mixture should start thickening within a minute or two.
Once this starts to happen, turn off the heat, move the béchamel to a cold hobb. Break the eggs and pour into béchamel one and a time whilst still stirring. Add the salt and pepper & nutmeg.
Add a handful of the grated cheese. Stop stirring. Cover until ready to use. Fill the cannelloni tubes with the meat mixture using whatever utensils do the job. I used a small long teaspoon and chopsticks to push the mixture in.
Lay the cannelloni in a large baking dish on one level only. Sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top of the cannelloni. Pour the Béchamel over the top.
Bake in a pre-heated oven on 180degrees Celsius for approx 45min.
Enjoy!